Picture frame construction

ABSTRACT

A PICTURE FRAME INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATE SECTIONS EACH OF CONSTANT CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN-ENDED THROUGH PASSAGEWAY FOR FRICTIONALLY RECEIVING A CONNECTOR KEY, AND BACKING MEANS FOR BACKING A PICTURE OR THE LIKE WITHIN THE FRAME.

OC. 19, 1971 M. D. BELFOR PICTURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION United StatesPatent O 3,613,279 PICTURE FRAME CONSTRUCTION Myer D. Belfor, CooperRiver Plaza, Pennsauken, NJ. 08110 Filed May 14, 1970, Ser. No. 37,245Int. Cl. G09f 1/12 U.S. Cl. 40-152 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apicture frame including a plurality of elongate sections each ofconstant cross-sectional conliguration and provided with an open-endedthrough passageway for frictionally receiving a connector key, andbacking means for backing a picture or the like within the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known to those versed in the art,picture frames are now frequently fabricated of metal, such as aluminumextrusions or the like, which extrusions are usually sold in a knockeddown or kit formation, together with corner connectors, whereby theframe sections may be placed about a picture and connected together atthe corners or adjacent ends of the frame sections.

Frame constructions of this general type, while having many advantagesover earlier frame constructions have been subject to certaindifficulties. For example, extruded metal picture frames have beeninadequate in not accepting pictures of different thicknesses, and havefurther proved unsatisfactory in requiring minute and difficult tohandle screw fastenings to secure the corner connectors in position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of thepresent inventon to provide a uniquely improved frame construction ofthe type adapted to be fabricated of extruded metal frame sections,which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, being adapted toreceive canvas paintings and other pictures of different thicknesses,and wherein the frame sections may be very quickly and easily assembledtogether by unskilled persons, and without the use of tools.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frameconstruction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in thepreceding paragraph, which is greatly simplified in structure, achievessubstantial savings in assembly time, and which is staunch, durable andreliable throughout a long useful life, all without sacrificing thenatural advantages of a metal frame construction.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational Viewshowing a frame construction of the present invention in an operative,assembled condition of use.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along theline 2-2 of FIG. l, enlarged for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional View similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating aframed canvas of thicker dimension.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a corner connector or keyconstructed in accordance with the teach- 3,613,279. Patented Oct. 19,1971 iig@ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now moreparticularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, aframe is there generally designated 10, being of polygonal orrectangular configuration and surrounding a picture 11. The frame 10 iscomposed of a plurality of elongate frame sections arranged inend-to-end angulate relation with respect to each other. In particular,the frame 10 includes an upper frame section 12, a pair of side framesections 13 and 14 each depending from a respective end of upper framesection 12, and a lower frame section 15 extending between the lowerends of side frame sections 13 and 14. The frame sections 12, 13, 14 and15 may all be of a constant and identical cross-sectional configuration,say as being advantageously fabricated of aluminum by extrusion. Theframe section 12 is illustrated in enlarged crosssectional detail inFIG. 2, there being shown as formed with an elongate, generally at,outer peripheral wall 17 having a forward longitudinal edge portion 18and a rearward longitudinal edge portion 19. That is, the peripheralwall 17 has its lateral or transverse dimension extending forwardly(leftward in FIG. 2) and rearward (rightward) of the picture frame 10.

Extending longitudinally along the outer peripheral wall 17, andparticularly along the forward longitudinal portion 18 of the peripheralwall, and projecting inwardly therefrom, is a masking wall 20. Ifdesired, as in the illustrated embodiment, the masking wall 20 mayextend obliquely inwardly and rearwardly.

At a location spaced inwardly from the peripheral wall 17, there isprovided on the rearward side of the masking wall 12, a longitudinallyextending rib or lip 21. That is, the rib or lip 21 extendslongitudinally along the rear side of the masking wall, being spacedinwardly from the peripheral wall 17, so that the peripheral wall,masking wall and lip all combine to define a forwardly located groove 22extending longitudinally along and between the peripheral and maskingwalls, and facing generally rearwardly. Viewed otherwise, the groove 22`is located along the inner side of the longitudinal forward portion 18of peripheral wall 17, extending longitudinally therealong, and facingrearwardly generally toward the rearward longitudinal peripheral wallportion 19.

An additional wall or web 2S extends longitudinally along the inner sideof the peripheral wall 17 being spaced rearwardly of the masking wall20, and located in spaced relation between the front and rearlongitudinal peripheral wall portions 18 and 19. In addition, aretaining wall 26 is provided extending longitudinally along the web 25,projecting forwardly from the inner edge of the web generally coplanarwith and terminating short of the lip 21. The longitudinally extending,forwardly projecting retaining wall 26, is thus also located in inwardlyspaced relation with respect to the outer peripheral wall 17 andcombines with the latter and web 2S to define a groove 27. The groove 27is located rearwardly of the groove 22, extending longitudinally alongthe inner side of the peripheral wall 17, and faces forwardly toward theforward groove 22. By this construction, the facing forward and rearwardgrooves 22 and 27 combine to define an open-ended through passageway 29,for a purpose appearing presently.

The cross-sectional configuration of each frame section 12-15, as shownin detail in FIG. 2 in connection with frame section 12, furtherincludes a backing member or flange extending longitudinally along theforward edge of retaining wall 26 and projecting inwardly therefrom, soas to be in generally rearwardly spaced facing relation with respect tothe masking wall 20.

In addition, located rearward of the web 25, intermediate the latter andthe rearward edge of the peripheral wall 17, there is provided a backingwall 31 extending longitudinally along the inner side of the peripheralwall and projecting inwardly therefrom beyond the ange 30, so as to alsobe in rearwardly spaced facing relation with respect to the masking wall20. The backing wall 31 is located slightly forwardly of the rear edgeof peripheral wall 17, and has its inner marginal edge portion 32 bentto extend obliquely rearwardly and inwardly, terminating substantiallycoplanar with the rear edge of the peripheral wall.

A plurality of connector keys or corner pieces are employed inconjunction with the several frame sections 12- 15, one connector keybeing located at each juncture or corner of the frame 10, the structureof a corner key being best seen in FIG. 4, and there generallydesignated 35. More specifically, each corner key 35 includes a pair ofelongate extensions or legs 36 arranged in end-to-end angulate relation,having their adjacent ends joined together at a juncture 37, and thelegs 36 extending angulately therefrom to terminate in free ends 38.Further, it will be appreciated that the legs 36 are each of anoutwardly tapering configuration, that is tapering in the direction fromthe juncture 37 to the free ends 38. As best seen in FIG. 4 each leg 36is of rectangular cross-sectional coniguration and located inintersecting planes, which planes intersect at the juncture 37. Further,the legs 36 each taper or are of reducing dimension outwardly in thedirection parallel to the meeting edge or juncture 37. This is best seenin FIG. 6, wherein it appears that the overall outline conguration ofeach leg 36 is generally that of a tapering wedge or trapezoid, onelongitudinal edge 39 being generally normal to the line of juncture 37and the other longitudinal edge 40 converging outwardly toward thelongitudinal edge 39. Further, it is there seen that the declining oroblique longitudinal edge 40 is provided, on each leg 36, with alongitudinally disposed row or series of outwardly projecting teeth 41.Specifictlly, the teeth 41 each extend laterally entirely across the legedge 40. The row of teeth 41 may extend to the free end edge 38, and mayterminate short of the juncture 37 if desired.

In assembly of the connector keys 35 together with the frame sections12-15, a key 35 is arranged with its legs 36 inserted into respectiveadjacent passageways 29 of adjacent frame sections, as seen in FIG. 5.This insertion of connector key legs 36 into passageways 29 is bestillustrated in FIG. 7, wherein it will be seen that the teeth 41 areresiliently deflected and serve to insure a snug effective frictionalretention of legs in there receiving passageways. However, the connectorkey legs 36 may be removed from the receiving passageways 29, ifdesired, by the exertion of sufficient force, which would ordinarily notbe applied in use. Further, the connector keys 35 may be reused afterremoval from the passageways 29 by mere repeated reinsertion, in themanner described hereinbefore.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the picture or canvas 11is of a thickness in its forward and rearward dimension so as to haveits forward side or face, as at 43, in engagement with the rear or backside of the masking wall 20, while its rear or back side 44 engages thefront side of backing fiange 30. In this manner, the relatively thinpicture of canvas 11 is effectively and positively retained in positionwithin the frame 10.

In FIG. 3 the frame 10l is shown in operative condition receiving apicture or canvas 11a, which is of greater thickness than that ofpicture 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the front side or face 43a ofcanvas 11a is in engagement with the rear side of masking wall 20, as inthe first described embodiment. However, the rear side 44a of relativelythick canvas or picture 11a engages the front surface of backing wall31, and is thereby positively retained in position within the frame 10.Thus, it will be appreciated that pictures or canvases 11 and 11a ofvery different thicknesses may be held with equal effectiveness inproper position with the frame 10i. In present practice, there areconventionally only two thicknesses of canvas stretchers, so that theconstruction of frame 10 is entirely adequate. Should it be desired toaccommodate canvas stretchers of different thicknesses than illustrated,this may be achieved by utilization of the teachings herein, that is, bythe provision of additional backing walls of increasing inwardprojection for increasing thickness.

Further, the rearmost backing wall 31, by means of its obliquelydownwardly and rearwardly extending inner marginal edge 32, serve toprovide a very convenient means for suspending an assembled frame from ascrew or nail impaled into a building wall. That is, the nail or screwhead is merely engaged beneath the wall portion 32 and the picture isproperly centered on the supporting fastener for positive suspensionthereby.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides aframe construction for pictures and the like which may very quickly andeasily be assembled in association with a received picture, without theneed for tools or mechanical skill. The connector keys 35 areadvantageously integrally fabricated of suitable plastic, such as nylon,or the like, to achieve the desired resilience or fiexibility describedhereinbefore.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame construction for pictures and the like comprising a pluralityof elongate frame sections arranged in end-to-end angulate relation andcombining to define a polygon; each of said frame sections being ofconstant cross-sectional configuration and comprising an outerperipheral wall having front and rear longitudinal portions, a maskingwall extending along the front longitudinal portion of said outerperipheral wall and projecting inwardly therefrom, a lip extendinglongitudinally along the rear side of said masking wall spaced inwardlyfrom said peripheral wall and combining therewith to define a forwardgroove facing rearwardly, a web extending longitudinally along the innerside of said peripheral wall spaced rearwardly from said masking wall, aretaining wall extending longitudinally along said web projectingforwardly therefrom and combining with said web and peripheral wall todefine a rearward groove facing forwardly toward said forward groove,said facing grooves combining to define an open-ended throughpassageway, and backing means carried by said peripheral wall projectinginwardly therefrom in rearwardly spaced relation with said masking wall;and a plurality of connector keys each comprising a pair of elongatelegs secured together in end-to-end angulate relation and extending insnug frictional releasably retaining engagement into the adjacent end ofa respective one of said passageways, to releasably retain said framesections together, said masking wall and backing means combining toreceive therebetween the marginal edges of a picture within said frame.

2. A frame construction according to claim 1, said frame sections eachbeing integrally fabricated of metal for rigidity, and said connectorkeys each being integrally fabricated of plastic for resilientyieldability in said frictional engagement.

3. A frame construction according to claim 1, said connector \key legseach tapering toward its free end for wedging action in the receivingpassageway.

4. A frame construction according to claim 1, in combination with aseries of resiliently deectable teeth on each of said legs to achievesaid snug frictional engagement.

5. A frame construction according to claim 1, said backing meanscomprising a backing Wall extending along the rear longitudinal portionof said peripheral wall and projecting inwardly therefrom beyond saidretaining wall into rearwardly spaced facing relation with said maskingwall.

6. A frame construction according to claim 5, said backing means havinga marginal edge portion extending obliquely inwardly and rearwardly forengagement over the head of a headed fastener projecting from a buildingwall.

7. A frame construction according to claim 1, said backing meanscomprising a ange extending longitudinally along said retaining wallprojecting inwardly therefrom References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,294,429 12/1966 Halip 40-152 X 3,317,227 5/1967 Nijhuis 40-152 X2,581,843 1/1952 Edwards 40-155 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner W.I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner

